C26 Stand by

Ye Tianhan wasn't overly meddling in the affairs of the middle-aged men who had come to plunder; rather, he recalled that in his past life, it was precisely at this moment when these men had stormed the supermarket and massacred hundreds of innocent civilians.

Initially, these men were bold enough to nearly seize control of the mountain, forming an armed group that wreaked havoc far and wide.

With the advent of the Prehistoric Online Game, many individuals, upon acquiring immense power, saw their desires surge uncontrollably, potentially bringing calamity to countless lives.

No sooner had Ye Tianhan stepped out than the citizens of Honeyhollow in the supermarket came to their senses, narrowly escaping a horrific massacre.

Dealing with the middle-aged men was merely a minor incident. Back at his villa, Ye Tianhan switched on the TV, ready to unwind for a bit.

Television programming had changed; gone were the dramas, replaced by expert analysis and speculation about the Prehistoric Online Game. Segments on how to defeat a level 20 monster unscathed, or the steps to become a disciple at the Violet Rose Palace or the Temple of Unity, filled the screen.

Much of this information was of little practical use, but some expert insights could aid Ye Tianhan's future strategies, so he paid attention.

Before he knew it, a day had slipped by, and it was almost eight in the morning.

In a scene reminiscent of the previous day, the new version of the Prehistoric Online Game launched just as the clock neared eight. This time, however, the update brought not only new characters but also a new strengthening system.

Yes, a strengthening system—just like in many other online games, where players could enhance their weapons. Strengthening required not only money but also monster materials, and the higher the level of enhancement, the more materials needed.

In theory, with enough wealth and the right materials, any weapon could be upgraded to rival the might of a Xiantian treasure. Strengthening to a Primal treasure wasn't out of the question either, but the required resources were astronomically high...

"A strengthening system?" Ye Tianhan's gaze sharpened.

As it happened, Mayor Lee had recently gifted him with an elite team of ten thousand players, a resource that could now prove quite valuable.

With a thought, Ye Tianhan chuckled to himself, glancing at the diamond-level login device in his hand and silently intoned, "Log in."

Despite having gone through the motions countless times, a trace of nervousness still fluttered in Ye Tianhan's heart.

"Congratulations! You have successfully logged in..."

"Logging in now..."

In an instant, Ye Tianhan felt an overwhelming force engulf him, tugging at his body and sending his head spinning. When his vision cleared, he was greeted by the opulent splendor of the East Sea Dragon Palace.

Clearly, Ye Tianhan had successfully entered the game.

At the very moment Ye Tianhan logged in, players around the globe did the same, transforming into beams of white light that vanished into the Prehistoric Online Game.

Places like the once-desolate beginner's village, the Violet Rose Palace, and the Temple of Unity were suddenly teeming with new players, making it unbearably crowded.

Ye Tianhan, however, was spared from this discomfort, safely within the confines of the East Sea Dragon Palace.

As the players logged in, the World Channel quickly buzzed with their exclamations.

"I only realized after starting this game that the Prehistoric Online Game is our sole defense against the surface demon beasts. The second time we ventured in, tens of thousands of citizens perished."

"Indeed, if we hadn't assembled a super team of elite players in the underground city to combat those monsters, half of Honeyhollow would have fallen..."

"The ones above have it rough, but we who have survived to log in for the third time can definitely sense that the Prehistoric Online Game is far from a mere game."

"It's not a game at all, but a lifeline... From now on, I'm doubling down on leveling up and slaying monsters, or else I won't be able to protect my friends!"

"We're still okay, thankfully. With the Great God, Serene Highness, single-handedly wiping out all the monsters, we've been spared the worst..."

"As a player from Fleylia, we too faced the onslaught of monsters and suffered heavy losses."

"Now, I have even more respect for Serene Highness. While everyone else thought it was just a game, he was the one truly fighting to enhance his power."

Many players shared their sentiments, each eager to voice their thoughts.

Ye Tianhan drew in a deep breath as he read through the conversations unfolding on the World Channel.

Just as in their past lives, players who had initially approached Prehistoric Online Game as mere entertainment eventually came to the stark realization that it was far more than a simple game. It was, in fact, a means of combating the monstrous threats from beyond and ensuring the survival of humanity.

Following the monstrous incursions, nations and conglomerates that had previously dismissed the threat scrambled to marshal all their resources for self-improvement.

In due time, the Prehistoric Online Game world would truly witness the dawn of an era of contention, where a multitude of factions would vie for supremacy.

Amidst Ye Tianhan's contemplations, a cautious voice at his ear jolted him from his reverie.

“S-Son of God!?”

The voice belonged to the East Sea Dragon King, his face adorned with a sycophantic grin.

"What's the matter?"

Ye Tianhan feigned an air of dignity, his gaze betraying a flicker of impatience that only deepened the Dragon King's reverence.

"The situation is such: my daughter, Lin Jiayao, was naive in her youth. If not for the timely intervention of the Son of God, she might have already fallen prey to villains. Consequently, I've been considering that the Son of God lacks a maid capable of managing all affairs.

"Therefore, I've discussed with my daughter the possibility of her serving at the Son of God's side. You need only treat her as a handmaiden."

Despite his deep affection for his daughter, the East Sea Dragon King bravely broached the subject for the future of the Dragon Clan.

As he spoke, he gestured, and Lin Jiayao, clad in simple yet elegant attire, stepped forward with a blend of poise and timidity.

"Oh?"

Ye Tianhan's eyes shimmered with intrigue.

The East Sea Dragon King's adoration for his daughter Lin Jiayao was evident, and in offering her services, he was clearly aligning himself with the Demon Clan.

For Ye Tianhan, this presented an opportunity to wield influence over the East Sea Dragon King and the maritime domain, thereby establishing his own base of power.

Despite his status as the Son of the Demon Race, commanding great respect and reverence, with many of the Demon Clan bowing before him, Ye Tianhan knew the value of strategic alliances.

In reality, ascending to the esteemed position of Sovereign of Demon Race was far from straightforward. Ye Tianhan knew he had to cultivate his own forces and amass unparalleled strength to even stand a chance.

Otherwise, even if Donghuang Taiyi were to abdicate in his favor, there would be no guarantee that he could maintain a firm grip on the title of Sovereign of Demon Race.

After all, weren't there enough puppet rulers in these times?

In the tumultuous realm of the Prehistoric World, where political strife and tangled alliances were the norm, he was certainly no fool.